Iowa Bills

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 4, 2026

HF 332: A bill for an act relating to administrators employed by school districts, including requiring administrators to provide instruction to students and modifying the responsibilities of the board of educational examiners.

HF 332 requires school administrators in Iowa to teach regularly, with specific mandates based on their role and school size. For example, high school principals must teach at least three semester-long classes every three years, while elementary principals must cover two subjects in a classroom for one semester every three years. School districts must ensure compliance and report annually to the state education department, with non-compliance potentially leading to license suspension by the Board of Educational Examiners. The bill applies to administrators like superintendents, principals, and assistant principals across all public school districts in Iowa.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SF 578: A bill for an act relating to record access by members of certain special districts and associations providing utility service.

This bill requires rural water districts and utility associations in Iowa to provide members with their most recent financial reports and requested budget details within 30 days of a reasonable request. It applies to members of rural water districts (under Chapter 357A), nonprofit cooperative associations, and cooperative associations providing utility services. The law mandates delivery of specific documents, including biennial reports, budgets, and balance sheets, to increase transparency in how these organizations manage finances. Associations must comply within 30 days of a member’s request, ensuring timely access to financial information.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 3, 2026

HJR 2006: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to legislative redistricting.

HJR 2006 proposes a constitutional amendment to reform Iowa's legislative redistricting process. It would require the creation of a nonpartisan legislative services agency to draw congressional and state legislative district maps after each federal census, with strict deadlines for data collection and plan submission. The agency must publicly disclose maps, population data, and plan details before the legislature votes on the proposed districts. This amendment directly affects how Iowa's legislature draws district boundaries, aiming to standardize the process through mandated timelines and transparency requirements. (Note: This is a proposed constitutional amendment, not yet enacted.)

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 3, 2026

HF 2264: A bill for an act relating to the minimum per hour wage provided to home health aides under the Medicaid program, and making an appropriation.

HF 2264 sets a minimum hourly wage of $15.20 for home health aides working under Iowa's Medicaid program, effective July 1, 2026. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to adjust Medicaid reimbursement rates for home health agencies to ensure this minimum wage is met. It also appropriates state general funds to cover the cost of these higher reimbursements for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This directly affects home health aides providing Medicaid-covered services and home and community-based waiver services in Iowa.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 3, 2026

HF 2261: A bill for an act relating to customer classes for large energy use facilities, and including applicability provisions.

HF 2261 creates a new customer class for large energy use facilities (defined as facilities using 20+ megawatts primarily engaged in specific services) served by electric or water utilities in Iowa. It requires utilities to establish separate rates, charges, and schedules for these facilities, ensuring costs directly assigned to them - like grid or water service loads - do not shift to other customers. The Iowa Utilities Commission must approve these rates, ensuring they prevent other customers from bearing unwarranted costs while promoting equitable contributions to grid and system efficiency. The bill applies to facilities constructed or expanded on or after January 1, 2027.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 3, 2026

HF 2265: A bill for an act modifying provisions related to eligibility for payments under the education savings account program, and including effective date provisions.

This bill modifies Iowa's education savings account program eligibility. For the 2025 school year (starting July 1, 2025), it maintains current rules allowing nonpublic school students (K-12) to receive payments. Starting July 1, 2026, it adds an income requirement: households must earn 400% or less of the U.S. federal poverty income guidelines to qualify. The change directly affects families with children attending nonpublic schools who seek these state-funded education savings accounts. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Education

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SSB 3110: A bill for an act relating to statewide voluntary preschool program students whose household income is below a certain amount, minimum hours required to be offered, and funding calculations.

This bill modifies Iowa's statewide voluntary preschool program (SVPP) by setting income-based minimum instructional hours. For children in households earning below 185% of the federal poverty level, school districts must offer 15 hours per week in 2026-2027 and 20 hours per week starting in 2027-2028, while other children receive 10 hours. Families of eligible low-income children can choose between 10 hours or the higher requirement. The bill also adjusts school district funding calculations: districts offering extended hours for low-income students receive funding based on 75% of those children’s enrollment (2026-2027) or 100% (2027+), plus 50% of other eligible students.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 3, 2026

HF 2267: A bill for an act relating to the maximum amount of unemployment benefits payable during a benefit year.

HF 2267 adjusts Iowa's unemployment benefit limits. It increases the maximum total benefits for most claimants from 16 to 26 times their weekly benefit amount during a benefit year. For workers laid off due to their employer closing permanently, it raises the cap from 26 to 39 times the weekly amount. Benefits are calculated based on previous earnings, with special rules applying to business closures. This bill directly affects Iowa workers filing for unemployment benefits.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 3, 2026

HF 2260: A bill for an act relating to the audio volume level of commercial advertisements provided by a video streaming service, and providing penalties.

HF 2260 requires video streaming services in Iowa to ensure commercial advertisements do not have a higher average audio volume than the video programming they accompany, effective July 1, 2026. It directly affects video streaming services (excluding traditional broadcasters, cable operators, or ad-free providers) serving Iowa residents. The Iowa Utilities Commission enforces the rule, with penalties up to $500 per day per violation, while aligning with federal regulations. The bill explicitly excludes consumer-generated media from its definition of "video programming" and states it does not create a private right of action for consumers.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SSB 3106: A bill for an act relating to the sale and distribution of beer, including by providing for the direct shipment of beer, levying a barrel tax, providing fees, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.

This Iowa bill establishes a new "beer direct shipper permit" allowing breweries to sell and ship beer directly to consumers within the state and to out-of-state customers (if permitted by that state's laws). It imposes a $5.89 barrel tax on beer sold or shipped under this permit and requires quarterly tax reporting for direct shipments. The permit is available to breweries with valid federal and state licenses, with a limit of 30,000 barrels annually for direct sales. The bill modifies existing beer permit rules but does not affect current wine shipping regulations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 3, 2026

HF 2259: A bill for an act relating to an insurer’s use of credit information for a motor vehicle financial liability coverage policy.

HF 2259 prohibits Iowa insurers from using credit information to underwrite or rate motor vehicle financial liability coverage policies. This directly affects auto insurers operating in Iowa, specifically banning the use of credit data for determining premiums or eligibility for standard liability insurance covering vehicle ownership, maintenance, or use. The bill amends Iowa law to add a new subsection (1A) explicitly banning this practice, defining "financial liability coverage" as the standard liability insurance required for motor vehicles. Current law already restricted some credit use in insurance, but this bill specifically extends the prohibition to this coverage type.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 3, 2026

HF 2257: A bill for an act relating to the siting and operation of renewable electric power generating facilities, and including retroactive applicability provisions.

HF 2257 sets new rules for where and how renewable energy facilities (like wind turbines, solar farms, and battery storage systems) can be built in Iowa. It requires local governments to follow specific minimum distances from homes, community buildings, roads, and other properties - such as 2 times a wind turbine's height from occupied homes or 50 feet from nonparticipating property for solar. The bill also limits noise (max 47 decibels) and shadow flicker (max 30 hours/year) near residences, while requiring facilities to meet national safety and fire codes. These rules apply to all new renewable projects proposed after January 1, 2026, directly affecting developers, local zoning boards, and nearby property owners.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Bill results